Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01

Tho astute feminine reader will o. aonrse un.
derstand that this is the ordinary superficial
masculine criticism, and at once make up her
mind both as to the character of the young
lady and the competency of the critic. I only
know that rather liked her. And her func-
hons are somewhat important in this We
racious history.
She looked up, started to her feet, leveled
her black brows at the intruder, but, at q
sign from her uncle, showed her white teeth
and spake.
It was only a sentence, and rather O COM
monplace one at that; but If she could have
put her voice upon her canvas, she might
have retrieved the Garcia fortunes. For it
was so musical SO tender, SO sympathizing,
90 melodious, so replete with the graciousness
of wonanhood that she seemed to have in
vented the language And yet that sentence
was only on exaggerated form of How dye
do,' whined out, doled out, lisped out, or shot
out from tho pretty mouths Of my fair coun-
trywomen.
Miguel admired the paintings. He was
struck particularly with crayon drawing Of
mule. "Mother of God it is the mule ITSELF
observe how it will not 60" Then the crafty
Victor broke in with, "But it is nothing to
her writing; look, you shall tell to me which
4 the handwriting Of Pho Pico;" and, from a
drawer in the secretary, he drew forth two
signatures. One was affixed to yellowish
paper, the other drawn on plain white FOOLS
cap OF course Miguel took the more mod
ern one with lover-like gallantry. ut is this
is genuinel" Victor laughed triumphantly;
Carmen echoed the laugh melodiously in
childlike glee, and added, with a slight toss
of her piquant head, at is mineI" The best
of the sex will not refuse just and overdue
compliment from even the man they dislike.
It's the principle they're after, not the senti-
ment.
But Victor was not satisfied with this proof
Of his niece's Skill "Say to her, " he demand
ed of Miguel, "what name thou likest, and it
shall be done before thee here" Miguel was
not SO much in love but he perceived the drift
of Victors suggestion, and remarked that
the rubric of Governor Mieheltorena was ex-
ceedingly complicated and difficult. "She
shall do It'll" responded Victor, with decision.
From a file Of old departmental papers the
governors signature and that involved rubric,
which must have cost his late excellency
many youthful days of anxiety, was produced
and laid before Carmen
Carmen took her pen in her hand, looked
at the brownish-looking document, and then
at the virgin whiteness of the foolscap before
her. "But," she said, pouting prettily, II
should have to first paint this white paper
brown. And it will absorb the ink more
quickly than that. When painted the San
Antonio of the Mission San Gabriel for
Father Acolti, had to put the decay in with
my oils and brushes before the good padre
would accept it."
The two scamps looked at each other. 1t
was their supreme moment II think have,"
said Victor, with assumed carelessness, II
think I have some of the old custom house
paper" He produced from the secretary
sheet of brown paper with stamp "Try it
on that"
Carmen smiled with childish delight, tried
1t, and produced marvel at is as magic"
said Miguel, feigning to cross himself.